Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium

Location

Wukesong Culture and Sports Center, Beijing

Event

Basketball

Area

168,000 sq m

Capacity

18,000 spectators

Beijing Olympic Basketball Gymnasium or Wukesong
Indoor Stadium, the venue for basketball preliminaries and finals in
the Olympic, is a gymnasium has three floors underground and four
floors above ground. The gymnasium has the capacity for 18,000
spectators. The venue covers an area of 168,000 sq m. It is located
at Wukesong Culture and Sports Center of Beijing. The venue is
clearly divided into areas for the athletes, the spectators, the
media, and the organization.

Architecture
The funnel-shaped LED display system is the most eye-catchy feature
of the gymnasium. The system not only meets the standards for
basketball games, but it could also be used for theatrical
performances, real-time broadcasts and background imagery. For
adding comfort and convenience to audience seats, all the seats have
been upholstered. The second floor is equipped with 45 luxury boxes.
29 of these are larger ones while 16 are smaller. Rainwater
recycling system, easy-to-clean glass and other technologies have
been adopted in the making of the gymnasium.

The building looks like a collosal gold bar from afar. But from
close quarters, one could see individual yellow-colored columns.
They color scheme fills the people with optimism and vibrancy. The
exterior of the gymnasium is made of aluminum alloy boards and is
capable of reflecting 80 percent of the heat generated by the
infrared waves. The alloy boards are capable of saving upto 70 per
cent energy. The gymnasium took more than two years in the making.

Seating System
Four entrances are available for the public to walk into the match
site directly on the first floor and special zones have been
earmarked for the disabled. The chairs are designed to enable the
viewers sit for a long time.